Category: Design
Holy holes x
This post makes me think of gentle waves lapping on sandy shore complete with bucket, spade and cricket bat. It’s old fashioned, timeless and harks back to simpler times in an eat it now sort of way.
Celia Pym is a knitting/embroidery artist and much of her work centres around visible mending – taking something worn, discarded and unloved…
..and adding a new, contrasting layer to marry the piece together.
The finished work takes on a whole new personality – the ghost of the past with the mend of the future. The work is seamless but showy, in the best unshouty kind of way.
It makes me think I would love to do something like this to a much loved cashmere cardigan that’s seen better days. 
Or mend the knees in my jeans like this. Maybe it’s the integrity of the craft that’s so appealing? But I looked up on You Tube to see how to do it..
(All pics Celia Pym)
Even watching this was meditative.
Now where’s my darning mushroom?
Laters, Kate x
Alice Cicolini x
Alice Cicolini’s jewellery fluidly mixes a rich tapestry of eastern traditions with cool modern sensibilities.
It’s a keen eye, passion and superbly talented craftsmen that bring her jewellery together.
Together with a total love of colour.
Each piece proudly nods to its heritage roots whilst still being totally unique.
Not an easy gulf to cross.
(All pictures Alice Cicolini)
But Cicolini’s work is a third retro 80s, a third Indian, a third British…and totally fabulous.
Laters, Kate x
Flashbulb x
Is it too late for New Years resolutions? The dust has finally settled and now I know what I’d like to do…keep a sketch book. I have a words/ideas book (which apparently is the classic sign of an introvert – who knew?) to keep treasures like assonance and sibilance that otherwise would float away. But a book of dabblings and drawings? If this Blog is a collection of thoughts and sources of inspiration, then a sketchbook would be those thoughts made physical. I think it’s a calling….
(All pictures not mine but from Pinterest)
Laters, after an arty online shop for supplies, Kate x
Best of the Baftas..
Top prize: Emily Blunt in McQueen. Does everything a great dress should – of particular note are those clever shoulders and beautiful embroidery – not too much, but just enough.
Close second: Hannah Bagshaw with husband, also in McQueen…could there be a theme?
Taylor Hill scores points for vintage Hollywood glamour.
Daisy Ridley: A winner for not taking it too seriously.
Isabelle Huppert in Chloe: Those sleeves and sheer elegance.
Penelope Cruz: For shaking it up.
(All pictures Pinterest)
Anya Taylor Joy in Gucci: Because it shouldn’t work, but it does.
Roll on the Oscars hey. And the odd dead swan.
Laters, Kate x
I swear, My Swear..
The price of these babies will no doubt induce an apocalypse of weepiness and hair tearing…and also make them ‘highly desirable’ such is the strange world we live in because the basic price starts at £300 – plus postage. And then this goes skyward depending on how much customisation you fancy. Yep – these walking mortgages from My Swear are labelled the first ever customisable trainers…and are sure to be a wallet slapping cosmos flying hit.
Where the joy comes in is even if you can’t buy, you can play: The power of the internet/websites are so good now, you can literally watch and plan every step – colour – not just all over, but for each section, type of leather, soles, toes, eyelets, laces – it’s a long list of decisions meaning you can end up with a totally unique object.
Ta-daaah!
(All pics from My Swear)
Expect to see them strutting their stuff at the AW17 fashion shows.
You’ve been warned.
Laters, Kate x
Upfront x
Excess be damned, it’s often the simplest things in life that give the greatest pleasures.
Like using a cast off, or a basic building supply to create an element of magic.
Vertical?
A door?
Or horizontal? Corrugated irons strange, earthly beauty is rock n roll on a shoe string.
Strangely I’m drawn to the black version.
Wonder why…
Laters, Kate x
Black Doors..
Have you noticed how black and green compliment each other? The black seduces whilst the green just pops.
It’s why we decided to replace our dying doors with a simple, chic, metal alternative – this was the before picture.
This the after – it’s made a huge difference – the whole space feels bigger, more grounded..the garden now beckons.
And the black frames now link through with the crittall doors in the kitchen.
Using the following pics as inspiration, we’d like to paint the areas around the doors black as well…
Can’t wait.
Laters, Kate x
Custom cool x
Want a beautiful light? Look no further than Rothschild & Bickers handblown offerings.
Available in a variety of options in colour, metal finish and flex style.
Charming, glorious with an authentic ambience.
They’re high voltage candy.
Laters, Kate x
Home Comforts
Sometimes the best designs are those frozen in time that create that link from nostalgia to modern day with the seamless flow of a painters brush.
Away from the noise and frenzied activity, Devol – more normally known for their exquisite kitchens – have been quietly honing their own beautiful ceramics range with the help of potter, Claire Fowler.
The range includes this nest of three lipped mixing bowls to rival – nay, supersede, Nigella’s original iconic offerings that are so hard to find now.
(All pics from Devol)
There are somethings in life that you know will just live long and prosper.
Laters, Kate x
Magic Carpet x
If there’s a theme over the last few post it’s re-invention. And the carpet industry is ripe for it: 400,000 tonnes of unwanted carpet is buried in UK landfill every year.
Isabel Webb has decided thats where the rubys in the dust lie – she’s taking both domestic and industrial carpet waste and giving it her own unique twist through dying, tufting, embroidery and shearing to reveal new patterns and textures and expose the potential within.
(All pictures Isabel Webb)
Isabel only graduated in 2016 so this is the embryo of a work in progress. But we like it. And we need more.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 